Lewis c



trai .LEWIS ICQTGWER. 0r ROCHESTER, NEW YORK., Y.liette'rs Intent-lio.87,310, dated'Fewua/ry v23, 1869.

,have invented a certain new and'useful Improvement. in Water-ProofAShoes and Boots; and I do hereby declnrethatthe lfollowing is a fulland exact description l thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making part ofthizs specication. y l n Figure lire'presentaperspective view of a shoe with the foot in section, showing myimprovement.

- Eigure2 is-a front view ofthe toe-part of the shoe.

My invention consists in combining, with the shoe, o. water-proofshield, resting between the soles, and `coming up between theupper'leather and lining, and also 'a layer interposed between thethickness of leather which constitutes the sole, two shields, layers, orlinings, overlapping at the edges or seannwherebv tl foot is protectedfrom water, but still ...ot so rar as to prevent free passage ofperspiration, as hereinafter set forth. Y

In the drawings, the shoe is represented as made in the4 usual way`,withupper leather a, cloth lining b, and outer and inner soles c d,connected in the ordinary manner.

Between the soles, in the process oi making, is inserted a shield or`lining, f, of India-rubber cloth, or other water-proofn1aterial,`extending up, between the upper leather and. lining, to aboutthe height shown, and passing from the heel, around the toe and sole ofthe toot, to the heel again'. The lower edge of this strip or shield j,intervenes between the soles c d, as shown at g.

If desired, however, the wate'rfproof material may be made to `enclosethe entire upper part of the shoe.

f represents a water-proof layer interposed between the thicknesses ofleather which constitute the sole.

It will be seen that the two shields, layers, or iinings ff', overlap atthe edges or seams, and form an Aimpermeable joint.

I obtain two important advantages:

First, by the shield passing "between the soles, no water canenter,unless it comes'abov'ethe top of the shieldwhich'is not the casennderordinary circum- `stances, but the'i'eet'grow wet from water entering atthe soles. v V

' Second, at the same time, the shield extending only part way up,- -thetop of the shoes is left free, and `there isno impediment tojthe passageof perspiration..

No dampness or moisture can reach the sole ofthe foot 'from' below,owing tothe layer f', which is interposed between the inner vand outersoles of leather.

lhe great superiorit;r of this arrangement, overa water-proof lining nottting between the'soles, but covering the whole upper, is apparent.

In the latter case,vno protection would ce made against water enteringvat the soles, while the perspiration would he retained, therebyproducing disease.

What I claim as my invention, is

The employment oi an elastic strip o1` shield, j, extending om the heel,around the toe and sole of the foot, to the heel again, its edgeintervening between the soles, in combination with a water-prooi' layerf', interposed ibetween the thicknesses of leather which constitute thesole, the two shields overlapping at the edgesv or seam, and forming animpermeable joint, for the exclusion of moisture, when constructed andarranged as set forth.

